Author: Barbara Schnichels, MSSW, ACSW, LICSW
Resilience Therapist and Coach
It is that exciting time of the year when students transition back to school. It often is stressful to establish the new routines and higher work loads. Families of college students are processing a mixture of grief, excitement, hope and fear. To refresh your resilience please focus on the following elements to make the school launch positive for everyone.
The 10 Elements of Resilient Wellbeing
Thrive Through Connection and Health
- Neuroscience & Change: Scientific brain research confirms that with training we create sustainable changes that are visible in our brain structure, noticeable in our daily perceptions, and increase our longevity.
- Awareness: Attention and interpretation training lead to more joy and happiness by activating and quieting different areas of your brain. Tuning into your mind-body connection gives you important cues for guiding your behavior to increase your wellbeing. Being centered helps you be more aware of your environment, self and others.
- Mindfulness: Being present in the current moment is critical to seizing all opportunities for positive experiences occurring now, instead of anticipating the future or reflecting on the past. It allows you to engage more fully in your life.
- Meaning/Purpose: Life is not without suffering, learning to focus our attention and refine our interpretations opens the door for change. Finding and embracing deeper meaning often requires us to forgive, accept, let go, and open our hearts and minds to new beginnings.
- Compassion: It is one of the most important aspects of resiliency. Compassion and kindness for self and others develops a sense of connection, acceptance, and empathy. It bridges differing belief systems to create connection and community. Compassion is a call to action to intentionally decrease suffering for yourself and others, bringing healing and sustaining life.
- Forgiveness: Forgiveness does not deny, justify, or forget the wrongdoing; it is a choice that frees you from the negativity and stress of holding on to anger or resentment. It frees up energy, improves health, and increases wellbeing.
- Gratitude: Thankfulness, humility, and appreciation unlock the fullness of life.
Being in gratitude helps us to not take ourselves, our lives, or others for granted.
- Energy: Your presence and intention often speaks louder than your words to those who pay attention.
The interpersonal resonance between people can be known without a word being heard. Being in the healthy energy flow of life can create, heal, and make big things happen. Negative energy can drain the life out of the strongest people or get them stuck or overwhelmed. In optimal energy we see, understand, trust, connect, achieve, care, and speak in harmony.
- Love: The focus on “we”.
This supreme emotion remains life-giving, soul-stretching state that your body craves. The biology of your brain, oxytocin, and the vagus nerve have important roles in love. It is a universal emotion that accepts, connects, has biochemical synchrony and is necessary to sustain life.
- Healthy Habits: Love and connection are the most critical components of health.
Routines to maintain good sleep, nutrition, exercise, fun, balance, and stress management promote health and well being.
If you feel challenged and need some support remember the Cashman Center staff is here for a variety of services: massage, healing touch therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling and medication management.
